|
Latest News: Archive
September 2008
|
|
|
Latest News: Archive
September 2008
|
After a hiatus of nearly seven years, a freight train arrived at Dereham today, operated by EWS and hauled by 66 105. The local Army barracks is only a few miles down the road at Swanton Morley, so rail offers value for money when moving freight in bulk, as well as reducing road congestion. The purpose of today's exercise was to evaluate a number of options for loading and unloading the train.
 |
 |
66 105 in Platfom 4 at Dereham. 26th September 2008. Photo: Barney Stratford |
Loading tanks onto the train. 26th September 2008. Photo: Barney Stratford |
By Trevor Brackpool, Owen Stratford, Simon Addington and Paul Mobbs.
P Way spent today working in the yard on the third siding. With the next section of the base prepared and ready to continue laying panels, the 6th and final panel was craned onto the end of the five lengths from two weeks ago. This was duly fishplated up and the last two track panels barred over into alignment. Meanwhile we continued with the crane and sorted out the components for the point that will form the lead towards the engine shed. Some of these had to be extracted from under other pieces of points. Once we had the complete kit of parts, they were laid out onto the bearers that had been positioned. A start was made on fishplating the left hand straight rails together and by the end of the day it was looking like a point. We also used the crane to dig out and arrange some of the components for the next point that will form the entrance into siding three.
Back in the yard, Barry, Trevor and Owen were working on the point that we started yesterday. With all of the rails in position, we joined the belly rail up to the common crossing and then back to the right hand switch. This locked all of the geometry together and enabled us to start securing the sleepers. As we began to screw down the chairs, it became apparent that at some point during its previous incarnation at Cambridge, a vehicle had become derailed. This explained the several missing chairs on the right hand switch, a bent switch anchor and some broken chairs on the crossing. There was also a cripple in one of the closure rails which will have to be replaced in due course. We located replacements for most of the chairs from our spares and fitted them with just two left to source.
In Dereham Yard, P Way continued with the job of laying the third siding. All of the remaining timbers for the point into the loco shed area were extracted from the pile and moved onto site with a trolley. The points were jacked up and the timbers inserted. We then worked through installing them all, gauging the track and drilling them before securing the straight route. We completed this work before spending an hour at the end of the day with a film crew who were making a program to be shown on the BBC next year.
We spent a couple of days with contractors carrying out vegetation clearance work at Thuxton. As well as opening up the views across the adjoining meadows, this work clears the space that the passing loop will occupy once construction starts next year. We also spent some time clearing up the litter that has accumulated adjacent to the neighbouring houses.
We started today by measuring up rails in the yard in order to prepare for installing the next turnout into the yard at Dereham. Were were measuring wear to make sure that we matched up rails as well as possible. Meanwhile Barry was grinding off old paint from a signal post, newly delivered from County School, that will be used at Thuxton. This was formerly one of the distant signals from north of Ryburgh. We also extracted another signal post for Thuxton and got it ready for preparation. We completed the day by painting black on the base of the shorter post.
By Matt Goodrum and Gary Hall.
 |
Lineside north of Neatherd Road. 21st September 2008. Photo: Matt Goodrum |
Unfortunately rain stopped play for the morning session of the northern section crew so we tidied up the hangar a little and drunk some tea (always a good option). After lunch, inspired by the sunshine and new volunteers Graham and Lee, we set off to dig out and riddle the soil-contaminated ballast around Neatherd Road. This is one of those small but vital tasks that it is good to get out of the way.
In order to speed up the progress on the northern section, the team have decided to work an extra day each month on the third Sunday starting today. We have continued with the clearance of the section to Swanton Road on the outskirts of Dereham. All our hard work is starting to pay off with meadow grasses starting to reappear where only dumped rubbish and bracken were previously.
By Gary Hall and Barney Stratford.
 |
East Winch Signal Box. 13th September 2008. Photo: Gary Hall |
We are dismantling East Winch signal box to save it from demolition and for use at the new passing loop at Thuxton. Work started just before 8am this morning removing the slates from the south side of the box. All the required vegetation clearance has now been accomplished and all of the slates and ridge tiles have been removed from the south side of the box, including the timbers. The slates and ridge tiles have been transported to Dereham Station for safe storage.
 |
Removing a window frame. 20th September 2008. Photo: Gary Hall |
We arrived on site at 8am to start dismantling the signal box. The first job was the removal of all the slates from the roof, before we could begin dismantling the wooden structure. Once the roof was removed, it became clear that the chimney was unsafe and needed to be demolished immediately. A hearty tug with a couple of people on the end of a rope was enough to send it plunging into the bushes: amazingly, the chimney pot survived the impact and was salvaged.
Meanwhile, we were busy chipping away at the brickwork surrounding the 1930s window-frames. These are in good condition, although without glass. There was only time to remove one of them, so the other will have to wait for next time.
The gate posts from the level crossing are still there in the undergrowth, complete with Blacks locks. These are extremely hard to come by, so were removed and taken to Dereham. The posts themselves have now also been salvaged.